Piedmont Hospital’s Heart Failure Resource Center and its stroke program have been recognized for performance excellence by the American Heart Association (AHA). The Heart Failure Resource Center received the 2008 Gold Performance Achievement Award and the stroke program received the 2008 Bronze Performance Achievement Award, announced recently in the “Best Hospitals” issue of U.S. News & World Report.
Piedmont Hospital is one of two hospitals in Georgia to get the Gold and one of 13 Georgia hospitals to earn the Bronze. Selected hospitals across the country were recognized for their commitment to quality care for heart disease and stroke patients by earning a Get With The Guidelines (GWTG) Achievement Award. GWTG is an evidence-based program for in-hospital quality improvement, developed by the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association. GWTG helps hospitals improve the quality of care they provide to patients with heart disease, heart failure and stroke by aligning treatment with the most current scientific guidelines—turning guidelines into lifelines.
“We are pleased Piedmont Hospital was recognized by AHA for our treatment and care of stroke and heart failure patients,” said Robert Maynard, president and CEO of Piedmont Hospital. “This national recognition shows our efforts to provide the best quality patient care.”
Piedmont Hospital demonstrated at least 85 percent compliance in each of the five core GWTG heart failure measures and in each of the seven core GWTG stroke measures. The gold award recognizes two years or more of sustained performance achievement and the bronze award recognizes initial performance achievement for 90 consecutive days.
Get With The Guidelines has been turning guidelines into lifelines since 2000, with more than 1,330 U.S. hospitals implementing the program. Hospitals, physicians, nurses and other healthcare providers who use GWTG are armed with the latest evidence-based guidelines and immediate access to clinical decision support. Clinicians and patients alike are assured that treatment is aligned with best-practice medicine and is therefore likely to produce improved patient outcomes.
For more information on Get With The Guidelines, search www.americanheart.org.
---
www.FayetteFrontPage.com
Fayette Front Page
Community News You Can Use
Fayetteville, Peachtree City, Tyrone
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page
www.artsacrossgeorgia.com
Arts Across Georgia
Monday, September 29, 2008
Piedmont Hospital Earns Gold and Bronze
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Denise Ray Named Chief Operating Officer and Senior Vice President of Piedmont Hospital
Denise Ray has been named chief operating officer and senior vice president of Piedmont Hospital. Ray’s responsibilities include planning, coordination and implementation of hospital clinical operations.
“Denise brings more than 20 years of progressive healthcare experience to this executive leadership position,” said Robert Maynard, president and CEO of Piedmont Hospital. “She has spent her career working in various administrative and clinical leadership roles in the five-hospital, 728-bed Erlanger Health System in Chattanooga, Tenn., and we know she will be a great asset to Piedmont Hospital.”
Ray said, “Piedmont is an exceptional healthcare institution, and it is important for me to work with an organization that values quality and service excellence. I can’t go anywhere in Atlanta without people talking about what a wonderful place Piedmont is. They have done it right at Piedmont all these years, and I am proud to build upon its greatness.”
As senior vice president of operations at Erlanger, her responsibilities included operational responsibility for the Baroness Erlanger Hospital, the main tertiary hospital and Academic Medical Center, and the East Campus. As chief nursing officer, her system-wide responsibilities included overseeing nursing and the various clinical service lines as well as other administrative functions. She held roles as senior vice president, Patient Care Services at Erlanger Hospital, and Administrator of CONTINuCARE Home Health Services.
Ray received her associate of science degree in nursing from Dalton State College in Dalton. She earned a bachelor’s degree in organizational management from Covenant College in Lookout Mountain and a master’s in business administration from Southern Adventist University in Chattanooga.
She lives in Buckhead with her husband, Bill. Her daughter, Katie, is a clinical pharmacist in Chattanooga at Erlanger.
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Mike Robertson Named Interim CEO of Piedmont Mountainside Hospital
Mike Robertson has been named interim chief executive officer of Piedmont Mountainside Hospital, effective July 1, 2008.
Robertson previously served as vice president of Operations for Piedmont Mountainside, overseeing clinical and support services. Robertson joined Piedmont Mountainside Hospital in July 2002 as manager of Respiratory Care. He also assisted with performance improvement and was promoted to vice president of Operations in March 2006.
“Mike has been a tremendous asset to Piedmont Mountainside these past six years, and I am pleased to announce his new role as interim CEO,” said Gregory A. Hurst, chairman of the board of Piedmont Mountainside Hospital and COO of Piedmont Healthcare. “Mike’s healthcare experience and years at Piedmont Mountainside will serve him well in his interim CEO role.”
Under Robertson’s leadership, Piedmont Mountainside Hospital recently completed a $7 million construction project which included expanding the ICU, laboratory, cafeteria and lobby; adding six new beds for the Clinical Decision Unit; and renovations to accommodate other support services. In addition, the MRI unit was established in a permanent in-house location, and a new interventional radiology suite was added.
A Georgia native, Robertson earned his bachelor’s degree in respiratory therapy from the Medical College of Georgia and a master’s of business administration from Shorter College in Rome. He is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives and the Georgia Association of Healthcare Executives. Mike and his wife, Georgette, live in Ball Ground with their two children, Taylor and Will.
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Piedmont Heart Institute Welcomes Cardiac Disease Specialists
PRNewswire/ -- Cardiac Disease Specialists, P.C. (CDS), is the third major cardiovascular physician group to join the Piedmont Heart Institute (PHI), making PHI Physicians one of the largest groups of cardiovascular specialists in the Southeast. As a group practice under Piedmont Healthcare, CDS has 17 physicians in 11 locations, including Buckhead, Blue Ridge, Dallas, Eatonton, Jasper and Vinings. The CDS Sleep Disorders Center also will become part of the Piedmont Heart Institute.
"The addition of Cardiac Disease Specialists to PHI signifies the coming together of some of the best and the brightest cardiovascular physicians in the field, complementing the membership of ACG and COG," said Michele M. Molden, president and CEO of the Piedmont Heart Institute.
"The physicians with Cardiac Disease Specialists began serving patients in the metro area in 1980 and have become leaders in resolving cardiac problems for the greater Georgia community," she continued. "We are proud to have this distinguished group of cardiac specialists join us and look forward to their involvement in the leadership and direction of the Piedmont Heart Institute."
Seven months ago, the Atlanta Cardiology Group (ACG), a 25-member cardiovascular physician specialty group became the first practice to join the Piedmont Heart Institute. In April, Cardiology of Georgia (COG), which includes 20 cardiovascular specialists, announced it was becoming part of the PHI.
The Piedmont Heart Institute, the first of its kind affiliated with a community hospital system in greater Atlanta, includes more than 60 cardiovascular specialists and continues to initiate new programs in cardiovascular research, education and excellence in prevention, arrhythmias, coronary and vascular intervention, stroke and cardiac imaging. It brings together prominent cardiovascular physician groups with one of the premier cardiac centers in the region, Fuqua Heart Center of Atlanta at Piedmont Hospital. Piedmont Hospital was recently named Best in Atlanta for Overall Cardiac Care and Cardiac Surgery (2008) by HealthGrades(R), the leading healthcare ratings organization.
"Cardiac Disease Specialists has a long heritage at Piedmont," said Harold D. Carlson, M.D., managing partner of CDS, "and we have always been committed to the delivery of high quality cardiovascular care. Our alignment with the Piedmont Heart Institute continues our legacy of care, while providing our physicians and patients with high quality healthcare services."
Seeking further alignment of the physicians and our hospitals, the Piedmont Heart Institute has implemented a new care delivery model in Atlanta that eliminates the barriers to working more closely together and creates a platform where leadership is shared with enhanced care and services for the community. This fully integrated financial model will ultimately improve the patient experience, care efficiencies, quality and outcomes.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Piedmont Hospital and Piedmont Fayette Hospital Receive Komen Foundation Grants
Piedmont Hospital and Piedmont Fayette Hospital have received funding from the Greater Atlanta Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure. The grants will be used to provide breast imaging services for underserved and underinsured women in the Atlanta area
“Piedmont is committed to providing state-of-the-art breast services to all women,” said Jeffrey Allen, M.D., medical director of the Doris Shaheen Breast Health Center at Piedmont Hospital. “We appreciate the support provided by the Atlanta affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure and are committed to meeting the needs of the community.”
Dr. Allen explained that a recent survey conducted by the Atlanta affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure demonstrated the marked underutilization of breast services in the Atlanta area by African-American and Latino women as well as indigent women of all races.
“To address this gap in crucial breast health services, the Doris Shaheen Breast Health Center at Piedmont Hospital and Women’s Imaging Center at Piedmont Fayette Hospital are providing free screening mammography, diagnostic mammography, breast ultrasound, ultrasound guided core biopsies, and stereotactic core biopsies to qualifying women,” he said. “A second grant is funding breast MRI and MRI-guided biopsies at Piedmont Hospital as well.”
Patients should be referred by a physician or can complete a form to see if they qualify at www.piedmonthospital.org/komen or www.fayettehospital.org/komen. If a patient qualifies and doesn’t have a physician, she will receive help finding a physician to follow her care. To learn more about the program and to check qualifications, call Suzette Wheeler at 404-352-1409, extension 304.
This year, Komen Atlanta awarded $2.25 million to 38 grantees in its 10-county service area. For more information on Susan G Komen or grants in your area, please visit www.komenatlanta.org.
Monday, June 9, 2008
Piedmont Mountainside Hospital Hosts Dessert and Discussion with the Doctor
Piedmont Mountainside Hospital invites residents in Pickens County and the surrounding communities to a Dessert and Discussion event on Thursday, June 19 at 5:30 p.m. in the New Education Room, Lower Level. Bryan D. Hooker, M.D. will lead the discussion, “Medicare Hospice Benefit: What it Provides for you and your Family.”
Under Medicare, hospice is primarily a program of care delivered in a person’s home by a Medicare-approved hospice organization. Reasonable and necessary medical and support services for the management of a terminal illness are furnished under a plan-of-care established by the beneficiary’s attending physician and the hospice team. It is available as a benefit under Medicare Hospital Insurance (Part A). Medicare beneficiaries who choose hospice care receive non-curative medical and support services for their terminal illness.
“Hospice care is a special way of caring for a patient whose disease cannot be cured,” said Dr. Hooker. “Rather than spending the last few days or months of life in a hospital, patients can receive individualized care at home or in a hospice setting.”
Dr. Hooker is a member of the medical staff at Piedmont Mountainside Hospital. He received his medical degree from the University of Alabama School of Medicine in Birmingham, Alabama. He then completed his internship and residency in internal medicine at Emory University Affiliated Hospitals in Atlanta.
Registration is required for this free event as seats are limited. The dessert begins promptly at 5:30 p.m., and the lecture follows at 6 p.m. To register, please call 1-866-900-4321. To learn more about Piedmont Mountainside Hospital, please call 706-301-5300 or visit www.piedmontmountainsidehospital.org.
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Cancer Wellness at Piedmont’s Programs and Services for June
Cancer Wellness at Piedmont’s Programs and Services for June
Comprehensive Complementary Services Offered to Anyone Affected by Cancer
Cancer Wellness at Piedmont Hospital offers comprehensive services and programs for anyone affected by cancer at any phase in his or her journey. Classes offered every month include: Cancer Wellfit©, Gentle Yoga, Art Therapy, Guided Imagery and Relaxation for Optimal Health, Mindfulness Training 101 & 102, Breast Cancer Support, Gynecological Cancer Support, and A Guy’s Group For more information please visit www.piedmontcancerconnection.org or to make a reservation for one of the classes listed below, call Carolyn Helmer at 404-605-1962, and please indicate which classes you plan to attend.
Cancer Wellness at Piedmont Hospital events for June:
· Food for Life Nutrition and Cooking Class Series for Cancer Prevention and Survival (offered by The Cancer Project)- Fridays in June, 12:30 to 2:30 p.m.
· Understanding Acupuncture- Learn what it is and how it works. Thursday, June 19, 1 to 3 p.m.
· Poetry Reading and Reception in the Wellness Café- Bring poems or favorites written by others to share and enjoy. Friday, June 27, 5 to 7 p.m.
For more information and a full list of classes please visit www.piedmontcancerconnection.org.
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
CALLING ALL NURSES, CATH LAB TECHS
Piedmont Hospital is holding a Career Open House for all nurses and cardiac catheterization lab technologists on Sunday, January 20, from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Piedmont Hospital Cafeteria (Collier Café), located on the Mezzanine level of the Hospital’s 77 Building.
“We know providing world-class care means putting the right people in an environment that offers the latest training, education and technology as well as offering flexible schedules,” said Joe Herzberg, VP of Human Resources for Piedmont Hospital. “We do our very best to provide all of that, while maintaining great nurse-to-patient ratios. We welcome all potential employees to become a part of our strong, cooperative team.”
Services at Piedmont Hospital’s Fuqua Heart Center include cardiothoracic surgery, interventional cardiology, endovascular, arrhythmia management, advanced heart failure management, genetic and metabolic preventive therapy and cardiac MR/CT imaging. The Piedmont Heart Institute combines renowned cardiologists and the Fuqua Heart Center of Atlanta at Piedmont Hospital to advance new programs in cardiovascular research, education and excellence in prevention, arrhythmias, coronary and vascular intervention, stroke and cardiac imaging.
The Open House will include hospital tours, raffle and door prizes, giveaways and refreshments. Managers and Human Resources staff will be on hand to share exciting career opportunities. Best parking is in the North Deck; take the Deck elevator and follow signage to the Cafeteria, Mezzanine level, 77 Building. For more information, please contact Pryia Rice at 404-605-2906 or Pryia.Rice@piedmont.org.
